Black Dahlia Without the Hyperbole.

Since today is the release date for the Black Dahlia movie, only 59 years and 9 months after the body was found, and since this means a lot of you in the interwebs are looking for some information regarding the Black Dahlia murder and how well the movie portrays history, I am offering some links to what I think is a reasonable analysis.

First, a little background. Like most people, I had a vague knowledge of what the Black Dahlia murder was, but hadn't become wrapped up in its mystique. Then last year I attended an LA Press Club event regarding the Donald Wolfe book The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, The Mogul, and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles where Wolfe reveals his theory that Bugsy Segal was behind the murder because Norman Chandler wanted to cover up a pregnancy. I thought the theory was crazy, still do, but it got me looking around the interweb looking for better information.

That's when I found Larry Harnisch's blog (Harnisch is essentially the Los Angeles Times "Black Dahlia Guy" and his methodology is rigorous) where he decimates the Wolfe book and provides robust analysis of the murder. Harnisch also has a site dedicated to his own theory about the murder. Harnisch also has a piece in today's LA Times, as does James Ellroy.

You can find a lot of crazy stuff on the web, so stick with the links above and you'll better be able to view the film critically.

Speaking of the Interwebonetosphere as TV

This Fall Season appears to be the season of internet premieres and internet support of television. Cinerati has already reported that CBS will be using its Innertube streaming video site to support its more serial television shows (CSI:Miami, Jericho, and Survivor will be available for viewing on the site)>.

It looks like other networks will be following the lead and offering network content on the internet, according to today's Hollywood Reporter. The methods of raising money, and show selection, vary from network to network, but one thing is clear...your PC (or Mac) has become another television. This PC television has one major advantage over your regular TV, and no it isn't the higher possible screen resolution (though that is cool too). You can use your computer to watch the shows you want, when you want. On demand TV is being test marketed this season and it is an exciting time. With products like "Gold Rush" being marketed on AOL, can a major show/ARG be far behind?

Here is a list of the big three network sites and the shows they will be offering:

CBS -- Innertube

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "CSI: Miami," "CSI: NY," "Jericho," "NCIS," "Numbers" and "Survivor" will be posted on Innertube the morning following their initial network broadcast. Episodes of the three "CSI" series, "NCIS" and "Numbers" will be available for four weeks while episodes of "Jericho" and "Survivor" will remain available on the broadband channel all season.

NBC -- I thought they were going to be limited to the "Netflix Premiere," but they decided to show me that they want to live in the now as well. Just click on the NBC 24/7 button at the NBC site.

The current player will begin exhibiting the new series Monday, but the NBC 24/7 branding won't kick in until Oct. 1.

Four episodes of the new comedies "30 Rock" and "Twenty Good Years" will be available, while eight episodes of the dramas "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Kidnapped," "Friday Night Lights" and "Heroes" will as well.

ABC -- In addition to their partnership with Apple which will allow you to download episodes for a fee, ABC is supporting an ad supported streaming network. I am very excited about their new show Ugly Betty.

Disney-ABC Television Group is returning its ad-supported player Sept. 23 with an even bigger lineup of series than it featured when the network first experimented with the technology in the spring. Seven series, including "Lost," "Ugly Betty" and "Six Degrees," will be featured four episodes at a time as well as "The Nine," the Warner Bros. TV series ABC secured through a separate deal that the companies announced Tuesday (HR 9/12).

Burgandy Skies already mentioned that her munchkin can watch Spongebob ad infinitum online, but this article doesn't want to delve to deep into how much content is going to be offered from the cable world. Let's just say...this is an exciting time to be a consumer, unless you are indecisive and don't like choices.

Supernova, Drunk on Tranya, Picks Lukas Rossi

Remember the Carbomite Maneuver? Remember the wierdly made up and bizarre looking Clint Howard who was somehow entrancing? Remember how the voice dubbed for young Mr. Howard felt unnatural? Me too.

Apparently Supernova thinks that odd combination of traits is exactly what they want in a new lead singer. That's right, Supernova chose the one remaining artist who would disuade me from purchasing their upcoming CD, Lukas Rossi. The only way I will buy the CD is if I drink too much tranya myself.

That's right...no Magni (boo!), no Dilana, and no Toby. Go to the 664th level of the abyss Supernova, or better yet the 666th level, because that's where I predict your CD will go...straight to the bottom.

The internet vs. T.V.

Television has, for me, jumped the shark. If a show is really good I can get it on DVD (and sometimes even when its not so good), clips of popular shows can be had via places like iFilm and YouTube, and now they even have epsiodes you can download into your iPod (heck, the Boo watches the latest episodes of Spongebob and the Fairly Odd Parents on Nick.com). Given that none of these mediums require that you stop every few minutes for commericals, nor that you sign up for TiVo, and given that the average person only has so many viewing hours, how many people out there are still watching T.V. that are internet/tech savvy?

I was just curious, because I never seem to even find the time to watch my stack of DVDs that I want to watch, much less browse television, but everyone in our college classes seem to have these laundry lists of television shows that they watch, even when they don't like them very much. Which is really surprising given that all these people go to work 40+ hours a week and go to school full time. Any thoughts from out there in T.V. Land?

The Temeraire Novels are Coming to the Big Screen

One of the most exciting Fantasy book series released this year was Naomi Novik's Temeraire collection. Earlier this year, the first three books in the series were released within one month of each other giving the series a nice movie serial/television show feel. I found it novel that I didn't have to wait the requisite 1 to 2 years between novels of a series, a fact that usually keeps the first book of a series unread on the shelf until sufficient sequels arrive and has led to me purchasing books I otherwise wouldn't. Nothing worse, as a reader, than waiting for a trilogy to finish, buying all the books, only to discover that the first book is aweful, all the while having waited 6 years before beginning the journey.

Novik's publisher didn't make me wait and I read the first book, His Majesty's Dragon, as soon as I bought it. I then waited with baited breath for the next two books. The series is a combination of traditional fantasy elements (dragons) with the Napoleonic nautical conflict of a Horatio Hornblower novel. If you love Dragons and cannon fire, these books are for you. It should be noted that while there are three books currently available, the series is not a trilogy and should continue in the near future. Yes, that probably means waiting the obligatory 1 to 2 years for sequels, but at least there are already three entertaining books out.

According to Novik's livejournal blog, and the Hollywood Reporter, Peter Jackson has optioned the movies for production. I can hardly wait!

Exploring the Supernatural, or Exploiting the Gullible?

The 19th Century, much like today, was a time when many were obsessed with the supernatural and wanted "proof" of life after death. There were, and are, many in the marketplace who address this obsession with either products or promises. Turn on the television tonight and you can watch a Medium talk with the dead or a "Psychic Detective" solve crimes in Santa Barbara. There are still people like John Edward who are willing to exploit people's personal loss for financial gain, using chicanery to simulate "abilities".

What separates the 19th century from today, and I think makes it an era with richer narrative potential when it comes to supernatural stories, is that it was a time (like the 1970s I guess) when scientists -- you know the empirical people -- and magicians examined the claims of the paranormal. Deborah Blum has an interesting book covering the investigations of William James and his friends entitled Ghost Hunters and fiction author Sax Rohmer's nonfiction book The Romance of Sorcery is a wonderful glipse into one member of the Golden Dawn's attempt to study the occult in a semi-scholarly fashion.

In the late 19th century, stage magic was at a pinnacle not seen since, except in Vegas, and you have room for narrative mystery. Modern science has taken the mystery out of many paranormal claims, and we are better societally for it, but it is still fun to tell tales of ghosts and sorcerers and the Victorian era makes such a wonderful backdrop.

This is why I am excited to see The Illusionist tonight, why I read Christopher Priest's The Prestige (I reviewed the book here), and why I look forward to the upcoming film version of the Priest book.

Speaking of the Victorian Era, "tricks," and ghosts, the Stephen Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles is showcasing the works of many "spirit" photographers from the late 19th and early 20th century in their Immaterial World exhibit. The Stephen Cohen Gallery is located at 7358 Beverly Blvd. and the exhibit is open 11 am to 6 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. The exhibit begins September 7th and ends November 11. I am excited to visit the exhibit, but a part of me finds it appropriate that the exhibit closes on Narrentag (Fool's Day).

Crickey!

Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, died today due to wounds caused by a Stingray.